NEW this year - new start line on the fields by the Burnaby Lake Clubhouse!See The Route page for more details

Paavo Nurmi Run

Follow in the footsteps of the Finnish running legend & join the Vancouver Finlandia Club for the 11th annual Paavo Nurmi Run. The 3, 5 or 10 km course follows the trails of Burnaby Lake Park – allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery and maybe spot some of the native wildlife within the wildlife sanctuary.The entry fee for the run includes a souvenir t-shirt and entry to the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Who Was Paavo Nurmi?

Nine-time Olympic Gold winner Paavo Nurmi is considered one of the greatest runner of all time. He was known as “The King of Runners” or the “Flying Finn”. Hero to all nationalities and famous all over the world, Nurmi became an unending source of national pride for the newly independent Finland. Paavo Nurmi had a burning will to succeed in life, and racing was his way to gain recognition from his fellow men and to fulfill the high standards he had set for himself.